Polar isolation shielding enclosure



April 12, 1966 E. A. LINDGREN POLAR ISOLATION SHIELDING ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1963 INVENTOR: ERIK ALINDGREN April 12, 1966 E. A. LINDGREN POLAR ISOLATION SHIELDING ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1965 INVENTOR. ERlK A. LINDGREN MW ATTIY United States Patent 3,246,072 POLAR ISOLATION SHIELDING ENCLOSURE Erik A. Lindgren, 4119 N. Troy, Chicago, Ill. Filed Dec. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 331,338 18 Claims. (Cl. 174-35) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 163,511, filed January 2, 1962 (now abandoned), which in turn is a continuationin-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 132,692, filed April 21, 1961 (now abandoned).

This invention relates in general to the construction of electrically shielded enclosures for protection from high frequency wave emanations and magnetic fields and in particular to a securing means for interlocking adjacent panels of a portable prefabricated electrically isolated room whereby it may be readily assembled and dis-assembled Without loss of shielding efficiency.

Shielding efiiciency is related to conductivity and nonpermeability and it is known that continuous electrical conductivity between contiguous points in a shielding element affords a pronounced efficiency as a radial wave shield in the intermediate and lower wave bands. However, by utilizing multiple, mutually spaced shielding enclosures, the quality of waves may be further enhanced and extended over a wider range of frequencies.

In joining adjacent panels to form a double electrically isolated shield room, it is necessary not only to maintain continuity of conduction, but to provide a means to positively secure the plural panels in tight, rigid relationship.

In recognition of these factors and desired objects, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved prefabricated rn-ulti-panel double shield room construction utilizing double electrically isolated shields in which continuity of conduction between corresponding shield elements of contiguous panels is automatically established as the panels are assembled to one another while complete electric isolation of one shield from the other is maintained.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an improved connecting device for securing prefabricated panels of a double electrically isolated shield room which is disposed entirely between the two shielding elements in the marginal edge of the adjacent panels and permits overlapping of one panel onto another at the corner junctures for maximum physical support with continuity of conduction between the corresponding shield elements of contiguous panels automatically maintained.

Among the other objects of this invention are a connecting device which permits assembly and dis-assembly of prefabricated panels completely from one side or the other, the mounting of transmission line filters on one of the prefabricated panels with continuity of conduction maintained and a solid multi-panel isolation room which is rugged in construction, simple in design and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the shielded isolation room of this invention will appear from the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front perspective illustrating an electrically isolated room in the assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view taken along the lines 22 in FIG. 1 illustrating a connecting device for securing the intermediate and the corner junctures of two panels forming the screen room;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in front elevation illustrating the relationship of the prefabricated panels at a three panel corner juncture with the connecting cap removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in front elevation of a preferred connecting cap for securing and connecting a three panel corner juncture;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in front elevation of an alternate connecting cap for securing and connecting a three panel corner juncture; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view illustrating the relationship of a prefabricated panel member having line filters mounted on each side thereof.

A basic prefabricated panel 10, from which the isolation room is constructed, may be formed from any solid dielectric material and is preferably formed from a frame construction with isolated shielding 12 extending continuously over the entire area of all the outer exposed surfaces. Each panel has exactly the same configuration with a uniform continuous groove formed in the marginal edge surfaces thereof. Sheets of isolating shielding material 12 extend over all the outer surfaces of the panel except the innermost or lowermost wall of the uniform continuous groove formed in the panels marginal edges. The peripheral edge of each sheet of shielding material 12 terminates on the inner side walls of the groove thus providing completely individual spaced electrically isolated shields. When the individual panel is connected to similar panels in contiguous relationship there is provided continuity of electrical conduction between the several shielded elements as will be fully explained in detail.

Various materials are known to possess shielding characteristics which serve the purpose of isolating a space against electrical magnetic and electrostatic wave penetrations. The shielding material 12 may be of any such suitable material, such as a copper mesh screen, a solid copper plate, stainless steel plate, etc., all of which have been considered to be effective shielding materials. Further, it has been found that a laminated structure which utilizes a thin layer of a suitable metal bonded to a flexible fibrous material also provides many desirable characteristics as a shielding material. It is to be understood that any of the effective shielding materials may be utilized on the prefabricated panels of this invention and that the illustration in the drawings is of solid material only by way of example.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, the connecting device of this invention is illustrated for the securement of intermediate panels and a two panel corner juncture. A wedge member 14, formed from a suitable dielectric material, such as wood, may be secured, preferably by an adhesive 16, to the lower surface of the grooves in the panel members 10. Each of the wedge members 14 provides an angular face 18 formed in reverse direction as a similar mating surface on the wedge member of an adjacent panel as they are brought together to be connected.

The wedge members 14 extend outwardly past the marginal edge of the panels 10 a substantial distance less than the depth of the groove formed in the marginal edge, so that, when the adjacent panels are abutted the extending portion of the wedge member 14 will be partially disposed within the groove in the adjacent panel.

To insure contact between the individual shields on the adjacent panels, a metallic contact plate 20 is disposed between the wedge member 14 and the side wall of the groove to contact the area adjacent the peripheral edge of the shielding material 12. The interference contact of the angular surfaces 18 as the adjacent panels are brought together, will force the contact plates 20 into solid contact with the shielding material 12 disposed in each of the opposing groove side Walls. Thus, it is readily understood that the spaced apart shielding on each panel is maintained when adjacent panels are interconnected by the contact plate 20.

The dimensional relationship of the opposing wedge members 14 relative to the width of the grooves creates sufficient interference between the angular surfaces 18 as the panels are brought into abutting relationship, to achieve two basic functions. First, the force created urges the contact plates Ztl outwardly into physical contact with the shielding material against the side walls of the groove. Secondly the interference contact of the wedge members 14 combines the frictional surface to surface contact of the wedges and the resiliency induced into the frame members of the panels by the interference to insure positive locking together in tight, rigid relationship, of the two separate panels.

To aid in bringing the two wedge members 14 together into tight, physical contact, recesses 22 are formed adjacent the peripheral edges of the frame members for receipt of a forcing tool to assist in drawing the two panels together. The tool, not shown, is preferably in the shape of a pair of pliers having an outwardly extending prong to engage the recess 22 in the sides of the adjacent panels. Once the intermediate panels are secured in the desired rigid relationship, a cover block or plate 24, providing a pair of depending legs 26, is positioned over the seam formed between the panels with the legs as frictionally secured in the recesses 22. It is to be noted that each of the recesses 22 are provided with a metallic insert 28 to eliminate any possibility of rupture of the shielding material while drawing the panels together and holding the cover plate 24.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the two panel corner juncture is secured in substantially the same manner as the intermediate panels by utilizing the interference contact between the angular surfaces of opposing wedge members. In securing the right angle juncture of two contiguous panels ltl an overlap of a portion of one panel upon the adjacent panel is permitted which provides rigidity to the room construction and weight bearing support for the panels that are to be disposed across the top of the isolation room. A right angle member 30, formed from a dielectric material such as plywood, has an inner and outer surface of shielding material 12 secured thereto. The ends of the inner and outer shielding surfaces on right angle member 3tl'are received within the grooves formed in the adjacent peripheral edges of the panels 10. Disposed between the inner and outer shields 12 are opposing wedge members 14 which force the inner and outer shields into contact with the respective shielding surfaces on the adjacent panels as the panels are drawn into a tight rigid secured relationship. Screw members 32 may be inserted through the recesses 22 and extend in wardly to the groove and penetrate the shielding material 12 and into the wedge portion member 14 to prevent possible subsequent separation of the adjacent panels.

As previously stated for the securement of the intermediate panels, the interference contact between the angular surfaces not only secures the two panels together but maintains continuity of conduction of corresponding shields of adjacent panels. In addition, it is readily understood that the overlapping of one frame member upon the other, at the two-panel corner junctures, provides the desired solid support for the upper or roof panels and completely eliminates the necessity of a securing bracket or contact member on the inside of the juncture.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a three panel corner connection is illustrated with the two panel corner connections, as just described, holding the three mutually perpendicular panels in secured relationship. A cap member 34 is formed, preferably by casting as seen in FIG. 4, to be disposed over the outer surfaces of the right angle members 3%, and the adjacent corners of the three panel members It). The cap member 34 is secured in position by screw members (not shown) which extend through opening 36 in the cap and openings 38 in the panels to embed in the wood frame of the panel. The

overlapping relationship of the three panels at the corner juncture automatically completes the inner shielding enclosure and the cap members 34, when secured in position, completes the outer shielding enclosure. In addition, the cap members 34, having a dimensional configuration slightly greater than the configuration on which it is disposed, to insure surface to surface contact with the shielding on the panels, locks the panels in secured relationship from possible subsequent separation.

An alternate embodiment of the cap member is illustrated in FIG. 5 by a cap member 49 having a substantially rounded outer portion. The cap member may be readily formed by a stamping or drawing operation with the outer peripheral edges being angularly formed to substantially overlap upon the flat surfaces'of each of the panel members 10 and the right angle members 30 and is similarly secured to the three panels by utilization of openings 42 which are in alignment with the openings 33 in each of the panel members 10 when the cap member 4 2 is placed in position.

Having somewhat similar configuration in two mutually perpendicular planes is an intermediate bracket 44, pro vided to secure four panel members together by extending over the right angle member 30 for securement of the adjacent panels disposed at right angles to one another as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

To insure the desired overall high efficiency of attenuation, the isolation room is provided with a panel 10 having a prefabricated line filter panel mounted therein as seen in FIG. 6. It is understood that any number of combination of banks of filters may be mounted in this arrangement and the illustration is only of a single pair of filters, one mounted on each side of the panel member 10. The prefabricated filter panel, indicated generally by the number 44, is constructed in substantially the same manner as the dual shielded panels 16 previously described except the shielding material 12 on both sides is formed from a substantially heavier gauge sheet mounted on dielectric frame members, such as wood.

A filter element 46 is mounted on the shielding material 12 on both sides of the panel 44 by a plurality of screw members 43 engaging the frame members. Each of the filter elements 46 are provided with cylindrical metal collars 50 which are received through the shielding material 12 in spaced apart relationship. More particularly, the two filter elements 46 are mounted on opposite sides of the panel 44 in direct alignment with one another with cylindrical collars 50, formed on the sides of the filters 4-6 received in an aperture formed through one of the frame members. As readily seen in FIG. 6, the extending ends of collars 50 are spaced apart from one another to maintain isolation from conduction between them yet continuity of conduction between adjacent panels and the shielding material 12 on the same sides of both panels. A suitable electrical cable or line 52 secures the two filter elements 4s together and is centrally disposed through collars 5% A suitable insulation ring 54 may be provided on the outer filter element 46 to receive the incoming transmission line for connection to the filter.

From the above description, it is seen that several banks of filter elements may be readily secured on both sides of a dual shield isolation room panel and be electrically connected together without disrupting the continuity of conduction of the spaced apart shielding elements.

It is therefore, readily apparent to those skilledin the art, from the above description, that the improved con struction for securing the panels together permits continuous electrical conductivity between corresponding shield members of the adjacent panels to be automatically established as the panels are joined together.

It is further to be noted that the entire isolation room may be secured entirely from one side or the other, depending upon the existing area where the screen room is to be assembled. The utilization of the recesses 22, FIG. 2, along the edges of each of the panels to draw the adjacent panels together by the use of a pair of prong type pliers may also be utilized to separate the adjacent panels when it is desired to dismantle the isolation room.

The use of opposing wedge members in the marginal grooves of the prefabricated panel permits not only the utilization of the resiliency inherent in the panel frame, but the frictional contact of the wedge members to hold the adjacent panels in a tight, rigid relationship and to insure electrical contact between similar shields of the adjacent panels and provides a connecting device entirely self-contained between the adjacent panels which is completely hidden from view when in the assembled condition. The overlapping relationship of adjacent panels disposed at right angles to one another at the two panel corner juncture automatically completes the inner enclosure without the necessity of additional contact brackets or plates. Further, the overlapping relationship increases overall rigidity and strength of the assembled room and provides a solid supporting surface for the upper or top panels of the isolation room.

Although the preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that details of construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical isolation room comprising panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding, said panels being disposed in edge engaging relationship, said edges having adjacent grooves centrally formed in their edge surfaces, said sheets of shielding being edge folded around and into said grooves against adjacent side walls of said grooves in isolated spaced relationship from each other, and means disposed within said grooves of said panels securing the panels in tight rigid relationship including dielectric wedge members in the grooves and iso lated contact plates spanning the space between the edge surfaces of adjacent panels, said contact plates having their remote surfaces separately and electrically interconnecting adjacent edge folds of the shielding sheets providing electrical conduction between the shielding on the same sides of adjacent panels, said wedge members between said contact plates having adjacent tapering surfaces slidable against each other maintaining isolation from conduction between the spaced apart plates and sheets of electrical shield forming a double shielded electrical isolation room, and members penetrating the electrical shielding, the adjacent edge folds and contact plate onone side of said edge engaging panels preventing possible subsequent separation thereof.

2. An electrical isolation room comprising a plurality ofunitary prefabricated panels of uniform construction each supporting spaced apart laminated sheets of electrical shielding, said paneling being disposed in edge abutting relationship, said abutting edges having facing grooves centrally formed in their edge surfaces, said sheets of shielding being edge folded around and into said grooves against adjacent side walls of said grooves in isolated spaced relationship from each other, and wedge members disposed within said grooves of said panels securing the panels in tight rigid relationship including a pair of conductive contact plates spanning the space between the abutting edges of said panels with their remote surfaces separately and electrically interconnecting adjacent abutting edges of shielding sheet edges providing electrical conduction between the shielding on the same sides of adjacent panels, said wedge members being made of dielectric material with their tapering surfaces slidable against each other maintains isolation from conduction between the spaced apart contact plates and between sheets of electrical shielding on opposite sides of said groove forming a double shielded electrical isolation room.

3. In an electrical isolation room, the combination of two coplanar panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding, said panels being disposed in edge abutting relationship, said abutting edges having facing grooves centrally formed in their edge surfaces, said sheets being edge folded around and into said grooves oppositely against the two side walls of said grooves in isolated spaced relationship from each other, a pair of electrically conductive contact plates spanning the space between the abutting edges of adjacent panels with their remote surfaces separately and electrically interconnecting adjacent edge folded sides of shielding sheets providing electrical conduction between the same sides of adjacent panels, and means disposed within said grooves of said panels urging the contact plates in a direction transverse to the plane of said panels and inducing resiliency in the frame members including dielectric opposing wedge members between said contact plates in frictional engagement with each other securing the panels in tight rigid relationship and maintain isolation from conduction between the spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding forming a double shielded electrical isolation room wall.

4. A prefabricated panel construction for forming a double shielded electrical isolation room comprising a rectangular frame, a uniform continuous groove formed in the four outer marginal edges of said frame, laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding supported on opposite sides of said frame electrically isolated from each other with the peripheral edges of said sheets terminating separately against opposite side walls of said groove in electrically isolated relationship providing two spaced apart laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding on a unitary panel structure, a conductive contact plate resting against one of the peripheral edges terminating in the groove and dielectric wedge means in said groove supporting said contact plate in place against said peripheral edge, said contact plate and wedge means extending outwardly past the marginal edge of the panel.

5. A prefabricated panel construction for forming a double shielded electrical isolation room comprising a rectangular frame, a uniform continuous groove formed in the four outer marginal edges of said frame, laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding each comprising an outside layer of metallic material and an inside layer of non-metallic material, means adhering said inside layer to opposite sides of said frame in electrically isolated relationship from each other with the peripheral edges of said sheets terminating separately in said groove in electrically isolated relationship providing two spaced apart laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding on a unitary panel structure, and means in said grove including an electrically conductive contact plate, a wedge member supporting said plate against one of said peripheral edges in said groove, and an adhesive element securing said Wedge member in said groove.

6. A prefabricated panel construction for forming a double shielded electrical isolation room comprising a rectangular planar member, a uniform continuous groove formed in outer marginal edges of said member, laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding supported on opposite sides of said member electrically isolated from each other with the terminal edges of said sheets against opposite side walls of said groove in electrically isolated relationship to provide two spaced apart laminated sheets of electro-magnetic shielding on a unitary panel structure, means for securing said panel in rigid relationship with another like panel including an electrically conductive contact plate in said groove in said panel and disposed along a side wall thereof, said contact plate being in contact with the terminal edge of one of the shielding sheets disposed in said groove, said contact plate extending outwardly from said groove, a wedge member in said groove holding said contact plate against said terminal edge of said one of the shielding sheets on said side wall, means securing said wedge member in said groove against said contact plate.

7. The combination called for in claim 6 in which said wedge member securing means includes a metallic device engaging said one of the shielding sheets and received into the panel through said side wall of the groove and extending through said contact plate and into said wedge member.

8. In combination with a prefabricated panel supporting on opposite sides spaced apart electrically isolated sheets of electrical shielding material and having a continuous groove with parallel side walls in the marginal edges thereof to form a double shielded electrical isolation room, a connecting device disposed within the groove comprising a dielectric wedge shaped member having on one side a metallic plate with a portion thereof disposed between said wedge shaped member and the side of said groove and on its other side having an outwardly tapered surface, said wedge shaped member extending beyond said marginal edge, said wedge shaped member adapted to make contact with an opposing and identical wedge shaped member in a correspondingily grooved edge of an abutting like panel with their tapered sides slidingly engaging each other in camming relationship rigidly securing the panels in mating relationship and electrically connecting adjacent sheets of electrical shielding material in contiguous relationship and maintaining continuity of conduction between the adjacent sheets on the panels and maintain electrical isolation between spaced apart sheets.

9. In combination with prefabricated electrically iso lated shielded panels each having shielding material thereon and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof, a connecting device securing two adjacent panels together in rigid relationship comprising an angularmember disposed in the space formed by the groove in each panel, said angular members being m interference contact with one another securing the panels in rigid relationship and means holding said panels together maintaining said interference contact including recesses formed in adjacent faces of each panel to the edges of the panels and opposite each other across the juncture of the panels, metallic inserts in said recesses contacting the shielding material to reinforce it against rupture and cover blocks interconnecting oppositely disposed inserts holding said angular members in place.

10. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding on opposite sides thereof and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent panels together comprising contact members separately engaging said. edges of the shielding in face to face contact therewith, dielectric wedge members in said grooves urging said members into electrical conductive contact with said edges of said shielding relationship, and means securing the wedge member initially in place with its angular face spaced from a side wall of the groove including an element at the bottom of the groove engaging the Wedge member.

11. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent panels together comprising a Wedge member disposed in each groove and a contact plate disposed in each groove between the wedge member and one of the peripheral edges of single one of the sheets of shielding, said wedge members being in interference contact securing the panels in rigid relationship and forcing said contact plates outwardly against the edges of the shielding maintaining continuity of conduction between contiguous sheets of shielding on adjacent panels, and metallic means engaging a single sheet of shielding with uninterrupted electrical continuity and received into the panel and extending through the peripheral edge of said single sheet and adjacent contact plate and into said wedge member holding the plate in fixed pr ssure engagemen with the peripheral edge.

12. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edge of the shielding on a side wall of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent perpendicular panels together comprising a pair of wedge members in said groove, a dielectrical member adjacent said Wedge members supporting a sheet of electrical shielding; a portion of said sheet extending beyond said dielectric member and received in said grooves between one side of the groove and said wedge members, said Wedge members being in interference contact with each other urging said portion into face to face electrical conductive contact with said peripheral edge of said shielding securing said panels in rigid, tight angular relationship and maintaining continuity of conduction between adjacent panels, said sheet of electrical shielding being angular and spanning the distance between adjacent panel grooves.

13-. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent perpendicular panels together comprising a dielectric member supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding; portions of said dielectric member supported sheets extending past the ends of said dielectric member received in said grooves, opposing wedge members disposed between said portions of said sheet received in said grooves urging said portions of said dielectric member supported sheets into face to face electrical conductive contact with said edges of the shielding on the panels securing the panels together and maintaining continuity of conduction between the shielding on contiguous panels.

14. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent perpendicular panels together comprising a first panel and a second panel, a portion of said first panel overlapping and seating on the second panel, a dielectric member supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding; portions of said member supported sheets of shielding extending past the ends of said dielectric member and received in the grooves in said first and second panels, wedge members disposed between said portions of said shielding extending into .the grooves urging said portions outwardly into face to face electrical conductive contact with said peripheral edges on said first and second panels securing the panels together at right angles and maintaining continuity of conduction between contiguous shielding on said panels.

15. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls thereof, a connecting device securing two adjacent perpendicular panels together comprising a first panel and a second panel, said first panel overlapping and seating on the second panel with a marginal edge of the first panel in alignment with the adjacent side wall of the groove formed in the marginal edge of the second panel; a dielectric member supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding material, edge portions of said member supported sheets of shielding material extending past the ends of said dielectric member and received in the grooves in said first and second panels; first and second wedge members disposed between the edge portions of said panel suuported sheets of shielding material extending into the grooves with said second wedge members disposed in said grooves extending outwardly be yond the sides of the groove, said first and second wedge members being in interference contact urging said edge portions of the shielding material on said dielectric member outwardly into face to face electrical conductive contact With said peripheral edges of the shielding on said first and second panels securing the panels together at right angles and maintaining continuity of conduction between contiguous shielding of adjacent panels.

16. In combination with prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a connecting device securing two adjacent perpendicular panels together comprising a first panel and a second panel, said first panel overlapping and seating on the second panel with a marginal edge of the first panel in alignment with the adjacent side wall of the groove formed in the marginal edge of the second panel; a dielectric member supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding contoured to form a right angle, edge portions of said member supported sheets extending past the ends of said dielectric member and received in the grooves in said first and second panels; first and second Wedge members disposed between the edge portions of said sheets extending into the grooves with said second wedge members disposed .in said grooves extending outwardly beyond the sides of its groove, said first and second wedge members being in interference contact urging said portions of the shielding on said dielectric member outwardly into face to face elec trical conductive contact with said peripheral shielding edges on said first and second panels and screw members received in said first and second panels into said grooves and embedded in the adjacent Wedge member securing the panels together at right angles and maintaining continuity of conduction between contiguous shields of adjacent panels.

17. A connecting device securing two adjacent prefabricated double electrically isolated panels forming a right angle corner of an isolation room comprising a first panel having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof, a second panel having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof, said first and second panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding, peripheral edges of said sheets being received on the side walls of the grooves, a right angle member consisting of a central dielectric member, an outer shielding member in the form of a right angle secured to one side of the dielectric member, an inner shielding member in the form of a right angle secured to the other side of the dielectric member, a portion of said inner and outer shielding members extending past the ends of said dielectric member, said first panel being disposed on said second panel with a marginal edge of the first panel in alignment with a side Wall of the groove on said second pane], and dielectric Wedge members disposed within said grooves urging said extending portions of said inner and outer shielding members into electrical conductive contact with said peripheral edges of the shielding on the panels automatically establishing continuity of conduction between adjacent panels as the panels are secured in contiguous relationship.

18. An electrical isolation room comprising a plurality of prefabricated panels each supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding and each having a continuous groove formed in the marginal edges thereof receiving the peripheral edges of the shielding on the side walls of said groove, a first connecting device disposed Within facing grooves of abutting marginal edges for securing two abutting intermediate panels together comprising a first wedge member and a contact plate disposed in each groove with the contact plate spanning the peripheral edges of said shielding on contiguous Walls of said grooves, said wedge members in opposite grooves being in interference contact with each other camming said contact plates outwardly against said edges of the shielding on the panels; a second connecting device securing another marginal edge of one of said panels perpendicular to a third panel, said second connecting device having a dielectric member supporting spaced apart sheets of electrical shielding material, portions of said sheets of shielding material extending past the ends of said dielectric member and received in a second set of said grooves of said one of said panels and said third panel, opposing wedge members disposed between the portions of said shielding material received in said second set of grooves urging said portions therein into face to face electrical conductive contact with edges of the shielding on the panels; and corner cover means interconnecting three adjacent mutually perpendicular panels together; said first and second connecting devices and said corner cover means securing said panels in contiguous relationship to automatically maintain double electrical isolation with continuity of conduction of adjacent contiguous sides of the panels.

No references cited.

JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner. 

18. AN ELECTRICAL ISOLATION ROOM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PREFABRICATED PANELS EACH SUPPORTING SPACED APART SHEETS OF ELECTRICAL SHIELDING AND EACH HAVING A CONTINUOUS GROOVE FORMED IN THE MARGINAL EDGES THEREOF RECEIVING THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF THE SHIELDING ON THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID GROOVE, A FIRST CONNECTING DEVICE DISPOSED WITHIN FACING GROOVES OF ABUTTING MARGINGAL EDGES FOR SECURING TWO ABUTTING INTERMEDIATE PANELS TOGETHER COMPRISING A FIRST WEDGE MEMBER AND A CONTACT PLATE DISPOSED IN EACH GROOVE WITH THE CONTACT PLATE SPANNING THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID SHIELDING ON CONTIGUOUS WALLS OF SAID GROOVES, SAID WEDGE MEMBERS IN OPPOSITE GROOVES BEING IN INTERFERENCE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHERE CAMMING SAID CONTACT PLATES OUTWARDLY AGAINST SAID EDGES OF THE SHIELDING ON THE PANELS; A SECOND CONNECTING DEVICE SECURING ANOTHER MARGINAL EDGE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS PERPENDICULAR TO A THIRD PANEL, SAID SECOND CONNECTING DEVICE HAVING A DIELECTRIC MEMBER SUPPORTING SPACED APART SHEETS OF ELECTRICAL SHIELDING MATERIAL, PORTIONS OF SAID SHEETS OF SHIELDING MATERIAL EXTENDING PAST THE ENDS OF SAID DIELECTRIC MEMBER AND RECEIVED IN A SECOND SET OF SAID GROOVES OF SAID ONE OF SAID PANELS AND SAID THIRD PANEL, OPPOSING WEDGE MEMBERS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE PORTIONS OF SAID SHIELDING MATERIAL RECEIVED IN SAID SECOND SET OF GROOVES URGING SAID PORTIONS THEREIN INTO FACE TO FACE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVE CONTACT WITH EDGES OF THE SHIELDING ON THE PANELS; AND CORNER COVER MEANS INTERCONNECTING THREE ADJACENT MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR PANELS TOGETHER; SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONNECTING DEVICES AND SAID CORNER COVER MEANS SECURING SAID PANELS IN CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP TO AUTOMATICALLY MAINTAIN DOUBLE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION WITH CONTINUITY OF CONDUCTION OF ADJACENT CONTIGUOUS SIDES OF THE PANELS. 